Fiji’s Interim Tourism Minister still waiting for cash
A report in the Fiji Times On Line says that the country’s interim Minister for Tourism Bernadette Rounds-Ganilau is still waiting for the interim Government grant to help the Fiji Visitors Bureau get on with various promotions to lure tourists back to Fiji’s shores.
Mrs Rounds-Ganilau said the $3.8million would go a long way in restoring tourism, one of the biggest foreign earners in the country.
“But we are still waiting,” she said on Saturday.
Tourism took a knock after the takeover in December and many resorts around the country are giving initiatives to attract tourists.
FVB chairman Patrick Wong expressed concern over the $3.8million grant from the interim Government. He said $1.5million was given last month and there was an outstanding balance of $1.6million remaining.
“This money is from the bureau’s revised budget allocation of $10million.”
“The $3.8million grant is a separate allocation from the bureau’s annual budget which was to supplement the industry following the drop in tourist arrivals last year.”
He said tourists from Australian and New Zealand destinations made up a large proportion of the 65 per cent tourist bookings for the July-August period.
Plans are also underway by the FVB to use an airline company to establish cost-effective tourism holiday packages targeted for the Northern Division.
FVB director marketing Cheryl Watson said this included sending educational and press visits to the North, adding, “We plan to expand the bureau’s relationship with Pacific Sun to establish cost-effective way of sending educational and press visits to the area”.
In earlier reports, it said the FVB’s promotions piqued the interest of the Australian tourist market to the point where it was slowly recovering from post-coup difficulties.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026